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FurCalc

Hay Calculator — Cattle, Horses, Goats & Sheep Winter Feed

Plan your winter hay needs. Calculates total pounds, tons and bales based on species, headcount, weight and feeding days.

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Winter feeding: 120–180 days in most US regions.

Small square: 40–80 lb · Large round: 800–1,500 lb.

Total hay needed
22.5tons · 750 bales
Per animal/day: 30 lb · Total: 45,000 lb
Add 10–15 % waste allowance for round bales fed without a hay ring (higher in muddy conditions).

Frequently Asked Questions

How much hay does a cow eat per day?

An adult beef cow (1,200 lb) eats 24–30 lb of hay per day at maintenance, more for lactating or pregnant cows. Dairy cows in milk eat 35+ lb per day.

How many bales of hay do I need for winter?

For a 1,200 lb cow eating 30 lb/day for 150 days = 4,500 lb = 75 small square bales (60 lb each) or 3–5 large round bales (800–1,500 lb each).

How much hay for a horse per month?

A 1,000 lb horse needs ~20 lb/day = 600 lb/month ≈ 10 small square bales or ~0.3 large round bales.

How much hay for goats and sheep?

Goats: 3.5 % of body weight (≈4 lb for a 100 lb goat). Sheep: same. Lactating does need 5 %.

How much hay waste should I allow?

10–15 % with hay rings; 25–40 % when round bales are fed without a ring. Small square bales waste 5–10 %.

Sources & References

  1. [1]
    Winter Hay Needs Calculator — Oregon State Extension
  2. [2]
    Hay for Beef Cattle — UK Extension — University of Kentucky
  3. [3]

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Buying hay by the bale without knowing weight — bales vary 40-70 lb. Weigh a sample before calculating herd needs.
  • Storing outdoors uncovered — 25-40% rots or loses nutrients in 6 months.
  • Not testing hay quality — 100 lb of poor hay feeds worse than 70 lb of tested high-quality. Forage lab test is $20-30.

Pro tips

  • Buy hay in summer at 30-50% lower cost than winter.
  • Second-cut hay is usually higher in protein and softer than first-cut.
  • For horses: ≥1.5% body weight in hay per day is minimum; 2% for maintenance.